What does “SNAP” stand for and what is involved in SNAP program reviews?
SNAP is EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy program. The SNAP program implements Section 612 of the Clean Air Act. Under SNAP, EPA evaluates substitutes that companies propose to use as replacements for ozone-depleting substances like CFC-113, TCA, and HCFC-141b, in order to determine that the substitutes won’t cause greater damage overall to human health or the environment than either the ozone depleters they are replacing or than other available substitutes. EPA generally reviews four key items when evaluating each proposed substitute: • ozone-depleting potential, • global-warming potential, • toxicity, and • flammability. • Based on this evaluation, EPA then decides whether unrestricted use of a substitute should be allowed, certain limits need to be placed on use, or use should be prohibited altogether. Top of page • Where can I find information on which substitutes have been listed as acceptable or unacceptable under SNAP? EPA published its first set of SNAP decisions on Mar
